A18073:104
A commentary upon the epistle of Saint Paul written to the Colossians. PreachedA commentary vpon the epistle of Saint Paule written to the Colossians. Preached
A commentary upon the epistle of Saint Paul written to the Colossians. Preached by Thomas Cartwright, and now published for the further use of the Church of GodA commentary vpon the epistle of Saint Paule written to the Colossians. Preached by Thomas Cartwright, and now published for the further vse of the Church of God
London: printed by Nicholas Okes, 1612
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
THE Apostle having given thanks to God for the graces the Colossians had received, as namely for the grace of faith, love, and for the sincerity of both that they were not vain and in show only, but true faith and sincere love, doth now also make his prayers unto God, that, as they had begun, they might go forwards, till they came to the perfection God had appointed them.
THE Apostle hauing giuen thanks to God for the graces the Colossians had receaued, as namely for the grace of faith, loue, and for the sincerity of both that they were not vaine and in shew onely, but true faith and sincere loue, doth now also make his prayers vnto God, that, as they had begun, they might goe forwards, till they came to the perfection God had appointed them.
The sum of these three verses is a prayer, that the Apostle doth make for the Colossians, for all manner of Christian conversation, and for all Christian duty whatsoever, so that in these 3. verses are shut ⟨p. 33⟩up whatsoever may be required of a Christian man, so that the like prayer in so few words is scarce to be found in the Scripture again. Wherein these two things are to be considered, first, the cause why the Apostle prayeth, secondly the prayer it self laid down in the rest of the text. For the first, for this cause Viz. because of that for which we have given thanks before, Viz. your faith and love, because that it is wrought abundantly in you. Doctrine Whence we learn that those that are called to the knowledge of the truth, and are endued with excellent gifts, of faith, hope, and love &c. are they, for whom we ought most especially to pray, and as they are lift up higher, by the Lord to heaven (as it were) to be as stars to the rest of the world, by so much the more are we to pray for them, that they may stand in the truth, and be daily increased in the gifts of God: And this is a common thing often observed and mentioned in the Scripture, that those, whom God hath advanced with graces, he will be further gracious to them, and therefore we are more to regard them in our prayers. And therefore our Saviour1